American Historical Artist John Trumbull

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in contemporary American society, the use of images to learn history has been under-valued as exemplified by the relative under-appreciation for the art of John Trumbull, an American painter, architect and author, whose paintings of major episodes in the U.S. War of Independence form a unique record of that conflict's events and participants. The author points out that Trumbull's most famous work is his documentary painting, "The Declaration of Independence", finished in 1836, which is a familiar image in American popular iconography. The paper describes in detail the paintings "Declaration of Independence", "The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown" and "The Battle of Bunker's Hill"; each of these paintings realistically depicts not only the scenes but also the historically correct portraiture of the participants.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Biography Information
Early life
Painting Career
"The Declaration of Independence"
Avenues of Fame
Misnaming
Description of Painting
Portraiture
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Members of Congress
Actual Scene
"Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown"
Description of Painting
Portraitures
Cornwallis
O'Hara
General Lincoln
Actual Scene
"The Battle of Bunker's Hill"
Description of Painting
Portraiture
General Putnam
British Officers
Howe
Clinton
Small
Pitcairn
Actual Scene
Conclusion

From the Paper:

""The Battle of Bunker's Hill" is also among Trumbull's most famous paintings. This painting is composed of many figures in close combat, and the painting's organization lies along a sweeping diagonal. Moreover, the dramatic contrasts of light and shadow movingly culminate in the highlighted soldier dying in the arms of a comrade.This was the first of Trumbull's Revolutionary War masterpieces to be finished, and it was also painted in the studio of Benjamin West in London. It was completed in March 1786, although the origin of the portraiture in this painting is less known than that of the two aforementioned Revolutionary War paintings. For example, it is unknown where Trumbull obtained the likeness of General Warren, although it is probable that he copied a portrait by Copley."

More papers on American Historical Artist John Trumbull:

• Analytical Essay # 139209 : "Art of John Trumbull"
• Essay # 19846 : "Early American Painters"
• Descriptive Essay # 109926 : "John Singleton Copley"

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